Hoi An Countryside: Bike, Basket Boat & Local Lunch Tour

Summary

Cycle rural Hoi An, meet farmers, try basket boats & taste lunch

You’ll pedal through Hoi An’s countryside with a local guide, join farmers in Tra Que village for hands-on gardening, glide in a basket boat beneath coconut palms, and share a fresh Vietnamese lunch by the river. Expect laughter, muddy shoes, and small moments that stick with you long after you’ve left.

What’s the experience like?

"You want to try watering the mint?" That’s what our guide, Mr. Tai, asked as we rolled our bikes into Tra Que village. I was already sweating — not even 9:00 am yet — but something about the way he grinned made it impossible to say no. The air smelled like basil and damp earth, and I actually laughed out loud when my hose sprayed more of me than the plants. The farmers didn’t seem to mind; one older woman just winked at me and kept working, her hands moving so fast through the rows of green I couldn’t keep up.

We pedaled past rice paddies where ducks waddled in crooked lines and water buffalo flicked their tails at flies. There was this moment — maybe ten minutes outside the village — when everything went quiet except for the click of our bike gears and some distant rooster crowing. It felt like time slowed down out there. Mr. Tai pointed out shrimp farms and told us how the river tides change everything for local families. I tried to remember all the names but honestly got lost somewhere between “Tra Que” and “Cam Thanh.”

The basket boat ride was… well, not what I expected. The round boats look wobbly but somehow glide through the coconut palms with barely a ripple. Our boatman sang something under his breath (I think it was a folk song?) while weaving strips of palm into little grasshoppers for us to take home. Li laughed when I tried to say thank you in Vietnamese — probably butchered it — but everyone seemed happy anyway.

Lunch was simple: rice, crispy pancakes stuffed with herbs from that morning’s garden, fish caught nearby. We sat on low stools with our guide and swapped stories about hometown food. I still think about that view across the fields while eating — sunlight on water buffalo backs, someone’s radio playing faintly from a house down the lane. The ride back felt easier somehow, legs tired but head kind of light.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hoi An Countryside Biking Tour

• Bike ride to Tra Que vegetable village and farm activities
• Cycle past shrimp farms and rice fields, see local animals
• Basket boat ride in coconut palm forest
• Local Vietnamese lunch and return to hotel

Top questions

How long is the Hoi An countryside biking tour?

The tour lasts approximately half a day including cycling, activities at Tra Que village, basket boat ride, lunch, and return transfer.

Is hotel pickup included for this Hoi An bike tour?

Yes, hotel pickup is included in both morning and afternoon tours.

What do you do at Tra Que vegetable village?

You participate in farming activities like hoeing soil, collecting seaweed from the river, transplanting seedlings, and watering vegetables alongside local farmers.

Are meals included on this Hoi An countryside tour?

Yes, a local Vietnamese lunch is included during the tour.

Can children join this biking & basket boat tour?

Yes; children between 6-11 are half price and under 6 go free (with adult supervision).

Is this tour suitable for pregnant travelers?

No; it’s not recommended for pregnant travelers due to physical activity involved.

Do I need to be fit for this Hoi An cycling tour?

A moderate level of physical fitness is required as you’ll be cycling several kilometers over mostly flat terrain.

Are bikes provided on this day trip from Hoi An?

Yes; use of bicycle is included in your booking.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup from Hoi An (morning or afternoon), use of bicycles throughout the countryside journey, all entrance tickets along the route, hands-on farming at Tra Que village with locals guiding you step-by-step, a unique basket boat ride through coconut palms led by residents of Cam Thanh fishing village, bottled water to keep you cool under the sun, plus a traditional Vietnamese lunch before cycling back to your hotel together.